Chesapeake Public Schools

We’re off to a great start welcoming Dr. Brubaker to Chesapeake Public Schools!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our first two Meet & Greet events today at Western Branch High and Oscar Smith High to share what makes our schools and community so special.

If you couldn't make it today, there are still plenty of opportunities to join the conversation and help welcome our new superintendent:

August 19 - Indian River High - 5:00 p.m.
August 20 - Hickory High - 9:00 a.m.
August 20 - Grassfield High - 5:00 p.m.
August 26 - Great Bridge High - 9:00 a.m.
August 27 - Deep Creek High - 5:00 p.m.

Attend whichever remaining session fits your schedule best! Can’t make it to an in-person event? You can still share your feedback and insights through our brief five-question survey at cpschools.com/surveys.

Honoring a legacy of joyful leadership and meaningful connection. ✨

At this year’s Empower General Conference, we were proud to present the inaugural Heather Brusso Legacy Award — created to honor the memory of an extraordinary leader who left an indelible mark on our schools and community.

Please join us in celebrating our 2026 Honoree, Mr. Paul Joseph, Principal of Oscar Smith High School! 💙🐯

Through intentional relationships, Mr. Joseph builds deep connections with students, staff and families. Using these connections, he builds the kind of trust and morale in the Oscar Smith community that earns him the respect of every student and staff member - a rare gift that makes him genuinely unique.❤️

🎉 Leadership that changes lives! 🎖️

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Beth Pallister, principal at Western Branch Middle School, for receiving the Secondary Excellence in Educational Leadership Award!

At the heart of Dr. Pallister’s success is an unwavering commitment to innovative teaching and learning. Under her guidance, Western Branch Middle has embraced student voice and choice, offering students greater autonomy through flexible pacing, collaborative projects, and diverse ways to demonstrate understanding. 📚🧠

Thank you for your impactful and innovative leadership, and congratulations on your well-deserved award! 🎉

🎉 Recognizing outstanding leadership! 🎖️

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Angela Napier, principal at Western Branch Primary, for receiving the Elementary Excellence in Educational Leadership Award!

Celebrated at this summer's Empower General Conference, Dr. Napier’s leadership reflects resilience, vision, compassion, and an uncompromising commitment to excellence. ❤️

Thank you for your dedication and congratulations on your well-deserved award!

Today marks the first day for our new superintendent, Dr. Doug Brubaker! ‼️

We officially welcomed him to the district yesterday and look forward to an exciting new chapter! Special thanks to Judge Bryant from Chesapeake Circuit Court, who joined us for the oath ceremony.

Don’t miss your chance to meet Dr. Brubaker at one of our upcoming Superintendent Meet and Greet sessions. You can view the full schedule here: www.cpschools.com/meet-and-greet

Welcome Dr. Brubaker to Chesapeake Public Schools!

Our new superintendent is hosting a series of Meet & Greet events across the district to connect with students, staff, families, and community members. Join Dr. Brubaker at an upcoming event to welcome him to Chesapeake Public Schools and share what makes our schools and community so special.

Aug 18: Western Branch High School (9:00 AM) | Oscar Smith High School (5:00 PM)
Aug 19: Indian River High (5:00 PM)
Aug 20: Hickory High School (9:00 AM) | Grassfield High School (5:00 PM)
Aug 26: Great Bridge High (9:00 AM)
Aug 27: Deep Creek HS (5:00 PM)

Attend any session that best fits your schedule. If you are unable to attend a session, you can still share your thoughts with Dr. Brubaker through this brief, five-question survey: cpschools.com/surveys

That's a wrap on the 2026 Empower Leadership Conference! 🎉

Our school leaders continued to collaborate through engaging breakout sessions, meaningful discussions, and strategic planning as they prepared for the upcoming school year. We're energized, inspired, and ready to welcome students back for another incredible school year!

A great school year starts with strong leadership! 🌟

Today, school and district leadership teams from across our schools and buildings gathered at Grassfield High School for our annual Empower Conference.

The day included remarks from Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton and our incoming Superintendent Dr. Doug Brubaker, an inspiring keynote from Dr. Jody Carrington as part of the Chesapeake Speaker Series presented by the Chesapeake Public Schools Educational Foundation, remarks from Antonio Lomba, and collaborative sessions to prepare for the year ahead.

"When people feel seen, they rise." We can't wait to continue the momentum tomorrow.